Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-10-11

leaving him badly off; he is driven,
against his inclination, to the profess.
ion OF the law. Meanwhile he resides
with his mother at Gorhambury, St.
Adams, the scene Of "2d Henry VI"
His studies and occupations con-
tinue to be unremunerative; he falls
into debt; appeals to those in power
to give him work which will enable
him to live as gentleman and afford
him congenial occupation.
In 1886, when only rs years old,
he is made bencher of Grsy's Inn.
His late hours, mysterious occupations
and studious seclusion are invidiously
commented on by his mother.
In 1887, when he is 26, his dramatic
inclinations show themselves. He as.
sists in getting up the Gray's 1nn
revels, the presentation on the stage
of "rhe Tragedy Of Arthur" and
some Mosques, performed before
Queen Elizabeth.
The beginning of 1892 finds An.
thony returning TO England, residing
with Francis in Chambers, the two
brothers fulfilling the duties of secre-
taries to the Earl Of Essex; their sal
aries unpaid. Francis, embarrassed
for want of money, is forced to get
help from the Jews; later on, actually
cast into a sponging house by "hard
Jew" on account of bond debt.
Anthony, on returning from abroad,
finding his brother thus distressed,
mortgages his property to pay his
brothers debts and pledges his own
credit to relieve him.
Baconians believe that "The Mer-
chant of Venice" derives its origin
from these episodes; that in "Shylock"
Bacon immortaliz-d the "hard Jew"
and in "Anton,o" his own generous
and unsel6sh brother Anthony.
In 1894 we find him taking 4 lead
ing part in 4 grand dramatic enter
tainment at Grsy's Inn. Anthony,
about this time, leaves his brotheI
and goes to live near the Bull Inn,
in Bishopsgate street. where 10 or X
of the Shakespeare plays we're acted
In 1895, on his soliciting the office
Of attorney or solicitor.general, he i.
passed over, aud retires, much hurt
to Twickenham.
About this time he makes the fol.
lowing entry in his private collection
of notes (Promus Note 1861: "Law
at Twickenham for merry tales"
The merry tales for which he was
thus preparing are believed to have
been some of those plays Especially
1.-The Tanning of the Shrew," "Ai,d.
summer Nights Dream" "The Mer.
chant of Venice" "2d Henry w.
and Calls Well That Ends Weli,")
soon to appear, full of legal points
and illusions which so much exercised
the mind of Lord Campbell.
Bacon's life is now retired and pri'
vate; his time is devoted mainly &c
philosophical and literary work. The
plays appear at intervals during tn.
next IL years.
| In 1923 Bacon writes to Sir Tob,
Matthew about "putting the alphabe
n a Frame" If this was their cipher
the frame was the 1923 Folio. Suct
enigmatical talk between two friends
is evidence that they were both inter
ested in some secret which they woulc
not openly refer to.
| In 1900 Bacon writes, speaking o
his mother at Gorhambury and Of hi
desire to keep her from anxiety, he
health being very worn. From ther
until her death, nothing is heard o
this clever, commanding woman ex
cept Bishop Goodman's remark tina
she was "little better than frantic" il
her old age. 1t is q coincidence tina
at this time the symptoms of madness
have evidently been closely studied
by the author of "Hamlet" and "Lear,
whoever he may have been.
About this time Sir Toby MATTHEW
. in one of his enigmatical letters Il
Bacon, says, in acknowledgment o
some work not specified: 81 will no
, return you weight for weight, bu
measure for measure" Comparin,
, this with the rest of the mystical tall
: passing between them, it seems plai
| that the plays were connected wit
2 tine enigma, and that Sir Toby Ma,
thew's and Bacon's jargon about tn
. alphabet" belongs to the same topi
, as "M-asure for Measure"
e In 1903 Queen Elizabeth dies an
/ James I. is crowned King. Baco
! writes to Sir John Davis, tho poe
asking him to give him a good wor
S with the King, concluding his lette
}, with tho mystic words, $50, desirin
!, you to be good to concealed poets,
!. am" etc.
RI To this year, 1903, "Othello" an
5 "King Lear" arc attributed. Bo,
}, plays have hit at the patents an
monopolies, the abolition Of whic
e Bacon was concerned in bringin
J about.
n In 1907 Bacon is at last promote
h to be Solicitor. General.
: In 1910 "Winter's Tale" and "Cyu
beline" are published. Winter
: Tale" includes a number Of Bacon
r | observations IN horticulture the vi